SUSPECT IN KILLINGS, ABDUCTION MAY BE IN NORTHWEST

Vehicle reportedly spotted in Oregon, Northern California

Amber Alerts were activated in Oregon and Washington on Wednesday evening as the massive search continued for the man suspected of killing a Lakeside woman and possibly her son, and then abducting her daughter.

San Diego County sheriff’s homicide Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said tips have poured in from all over the country from people who have reported seeing a blue 2013 Nissan Versa that suspect James Lee DiMaggio, 40, may be driving. None of the sightings have been confirmed, officials said.

Oregon State Police said in a statement that San Diego County sheriff’s officials asked for the alert to be issued after reports of vehicle sightings Wednesday in California near the Oregon border and later in Oregon. The alert was extended to Washington state.

One report came about 2 p.m. near Lakeview in southern Oregon, and the other was earlier along northbound Highway 395/299 near Alturas in California, Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings said in the statement.

“Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies are on the lookout for the vehicle,” Hastings said. The California license plate is 6WCU986.

DiMaggio’s friends and family are baffled over the accusations that on Sunday he killed Christina “Tina” Anderson, 44, possibly her 8-year-old son Ethan and a dog, then set fire to his Boulevard home and kidnapped 16-year-old Hannah Anderson.

DiMaggio’s sister said Wednesday she thinks her brother has been the victim of foul play.

Lora Robinson, 34, said she cannot believe her sibling, a telecommunications technician, is capable of doing the things he is accused of.

“That’s completely out of character for him,” Robinson said.

She described her brother as her best friend and “her rock.” She said he spent four years in the Navy and left the service to come home and take care of her after their mother died of cancer.

“He is the kindest person in the world,” Robinson said.

She said DiMaggio has worked at the Scripps Research Institute for the past 20 years, and in his spare time volunteers rescuing animals. He once spent $2,500 to save the life of a cat, she said.

“He couldn’t hurt an animal, much less a human being,” Robinson said.

DiMaggio has known the Andersons for years and considered the children’s father, Brett Anderson, to be his best friend. When Brett Anderson separated from his wife and moved out of the couple’s Lakeside home to go to Tennessee, he told DiMaggio to look after his children for him, Robinson said.

Brett Anderson flew to San Diego on Tuesday and made a public plea to DiMaggio to let Hannah go. He urged the girl to run if she had the chance. And while the body of the child found on the rural property has not been identified, family members believe it is that of Ethan.

Giannantonio said that autopsy results obtained Wednesday indicated the burned remains are of a child about 8 years old, but no identity had been confirmed.

Robinson said her brother was trying to help Christina Anderson and supported the kids, who considered him an uncle.

“He looked after those kids like they were his own,” Robinson said.

Last month, DiMaggio took Hannah to visit her grandfather, and the two stopped at Robinson’s home for a visit. Everything seemed fine, she said.

Robinson said she thinks someone broke into the house, killed Anderson and the child, and then took off with DiMaggio and the teenager.

“This doesn’t make sense,” she said. “I think my brother’s dead.”

Giannantonio said that investigators have no other suspect besides DiMaggio.

“We have probable cause to believe that DiMaggio murdered them and set the house on fire,” he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call sheriff’s investigators at (858) 974-2321 or (858) 565-5200 after hours. Tipsters can also anonymously call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.